SHBC1411

S.SHAFIE¹, J. H. LAU¹, A. JEYAGURUNATHAN¹, S. CHANG¹, E. SAMARI¹, L. CETTY¹, K.C. WEI¹, M. SUBRAMANIAM¹

Institute of Mental Health¹

Quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome studied among patients with mental illness. This study aimed to examine correlates of four domains (physical health, psychological, social relationships and environment) of QOL among outpatients with schizophrenia and related psychoses (SaRP).

Data was collected from 397 outpatients with SaRP at the Institute of Mental Health. QOL, social support (SS) and symptom severity were measured using brief version of World Health Organization Quality of Life, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the global score derived from the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, respectively. Socio-demographic data was also collected. Multivariable linear regressions were used to analyse correlates of the domains of QOL.

SS from friends was positively associated with all four domains of QOL. Conversely, symptom severity was negatively associated with all four domains of QOL. Those aged 50-65years (vs 21-34years) and of Indian ethnicity (vs Chinese) scored higher in psychological domain. Those with primary education and below (vs degree and above) scored lower in physical health and environment domains. SS from significant other and SS from family were positively associated with social relationships and environment domains, respectively.

Our study provides evidence to suggest that not only optimal control of symptoms but good SS plays an equally important role in QOL of patients with SaRP. Intervention programmes must engage patients’ friends, families and significant others to enable them to better understand the condition and facilitate SS to patients. Those with lower education and younger adults should be actively engaged to facilitate improvement in their QOL.